Visa-Free 2013 Pilot Program For Turks To Kick Off

Last summer’s visa facilitation pilot program that allowed non-European Union citizens from Turkish ports to visit selected Greek islands in the eastern Aegean without a visa from a Greek consulate will run again this season.

The Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA) has informed Greek travel agents that the pilot program is expected to launch by late April (or early May) and will run until late October.

According to the pilot program, Turkish tourists or other non-EU citizens visiting Turkey that wish to visit the islands of Rodos, Kos, Samos, Chios, Mytilini and Kastelorizo for less than 15 days can issue visas either through Turkish travel agents or straight from the ports of the islands (with the proper documentation).

Greek travel agents can find more information (in Greek) on HATTA’s website.

The program will offer a relief from the strict regulations for the EU’s joint Schengen visa and is expected to boost the number of visitors from the neighboring country to the Greek islands.

HATTA said it aims for the pilot program to become permanent and extend to other areas of Greece and apply to other nationalities as well.